CIRCUMSTANCES OF LOSSSecond Lieutenant Samuel Gillespie was a pilot assigned to VMSB-141, a Marine dive-bombing squadron stationed on Guadalcanal.

On 17 October 1942, Gillespie and PFC Stuart F. Smith, Jr. were assigned to fly a routine anti-submarine patrol. The two Marines took off in a Dauntless bomber (SBD-3 Bureau Number 03310), headed off to their assigned sector – and never returned.

No trace of Gillespie or Smith was ever found. They were declared dead as of 19 February 1945.